Set above the harbour in Portree, Scorrybreac is chef Calum Munro’s tribute to the island’s larder and lore. Plates of Skye crab, foraged herbs, and Douglas fir oil are served on custom ceramics embedded with island sand and melted sea glass – designed to echo the tidelines that inspired them. Book ahead; the room is intimate, and so is the experience. If you can’t secure a table, head upstairs to the bar and soak up the sea views. 

A firm favourite in Portree and Inverness, Birch Coffee is a micro-roastery and bakery where serious beans meet Scandi-inspired calm. Sip single-origin espresso in soft-hued ceramics and watch the daily rhythm unfold – roasters humming, bakers folding buttery dough, locals lingering over pour-overs. Thoughtful and design-forward without trying too hard, Birch’s sleek interiors are designed by owner Niall Munro and brought to life with hand-crafted furniture using Scottish native timber.  

Raasay’s Dùn Caan is everything a Highland hike should be – wild and utterly rewarding. The 15-kilometre trail winds over moorland, past hidden lochans, and up rocky ridges to the island’s highest point. From the flat-topped summit, the views are ridiculous – never-ending panoramas of Skye, the Inner Hebrides, and the Atlantic stretching to the horizon. Keep an eye out for buzzards circling above, and maybe even a red deer or two in the heather. Pack a picnic and soak it all in – it’s worth every huff and puff.

At Café Cùil, Skye-born chef Clare Coghill offers a fresh, soulful take on Highland brunching – think oat porridge brûlée, smoked trout with tattie scones, or a cardamom bun with a cortado in hand. Housed in a bright, contemporary space with cliff-edge views, the café champions small-scale Scottish producers, right down to the specially-thrown ceramic cups shaped with sand from local beaches.